Business
NGO Takes Gas Education To ONELGA …Trains 84 On Gas Alert
A non-profit, non-political
and non-governmental organisation, Gas Alert for Sustainable Initiative (GASIN), has trained no fewer than 14 indigenes of Obie and Ebogoro communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on gas safety.
It also inducted 70 students of Egbema Grammer School, Community Secondary School, Obrikom, Community Secondary School, Mgbede and Community Secondatry School, Aggah as members of its Gas Alert Club.
At a public sensitisation programme on gas safety held at Ebogoro and Obie, recently, the Executive Director of GASIN, Rev Fr Edward Obi, said there is an urgent need to educate the people particularly in the host communities of Oil and Gas producing companies on the best safety approach to the issue of gas.
By so doing, he said, this would reduce the growing danger and inherent huge loss of lives and property through gas explosion and fire in such gas abundant areas particularly in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
At the public sensitisation programme, made up of the community people, Federal Minsitry of Environment, National Oil Response, Dictation and Remediation Agency (NORSDRA) and other stakeholders, Obi said all have crucial roles to play in ensuring that international standards were being strictly observed and to protect lives and property in areas where gas exploration activities take place.
He advised the community people to refrain from farming or doing business on gas facilities or pipeline Right of Ways as such activities could result in gas explosion and fire that could consume the entire community.
He said the NGO was established by the Niger Delta Catholic Bishops’ Forum (NDCBF) and incorporated in 2012 with the vision to educate the public on clean and safe Niger-Delta in which natural resources are extracted and processed.
The organisation urged the local people to report to the appropriate agencies as NOSDRA, Ministry of Environment, or GASIN in the event of any gas leakages and not to resort to self help because of the dangerous and complex nature of gas to the environment when mishandled.
He particularly preached against any attempt to vandalise gas pipeline in protest against perceived unfair treatment of prospecting and producing companies in the area, emphasizing that the result of such actions could be catastrophic to lives and environment.
“We are alerting communities about the dangers of gas. God loves you all and deposited gas as resource for your development. So the awareness we create is that gas is a rich resource. But it is also very volatile and dangerous. Don’t joke with it. It is explosive and the fire it causes can consume entire community,” he said.
The Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Sir Cyrius Nkangwung commended GASIN for the awareness campaign and noted that such efforts where vital because of the environmental and health hazards it causes to the inhabitants of gas producing communities.
The NOSDRA Zonal Head who was represented at the event by Mr Augustine Bello urged all to join hands to save lives and environment and to respect laws guiding Pipeline Right of Ways, noting that oil companies had paid for the right of ways.
The Tide reports that in Obie and Egbogoro, seven persons each were inaugurated as Gas Alert Group and that the team coordinates safety in invent of gas leak and community members were advised to report issues concerning gas leakages to the team or government agencies for appropriate safety actions.
Chris Oluoh
MoniePoint Inc. a digital financial firm in Nigeria, has said it is empowering community pharmacists across the country with innovative payment solutions to improve access to drugs.
The financial firm said it had also provided loans for pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to drive healthcare delivery in the country.
MoniePoint in a release titled, “Inside Nigeria’s community pharmacies: How Moniepoint drives healthcare access with payments and funding”, has reaffirmed its commitment to providing digital payment solutions to improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
The release examined how community pharmacies play a crucial role as vital access points for medical care in Nigeria, especially in areas with limited hospital or clinic access.
According to the release, the ACPN National Chairman, Ambrose Igwekwam, highlighted the critical role played by community pharmacies in Nigeria’s healthcare system over the years.
Igwekwam, however, expressed concerns over the challenges confronting the nation’s pharmaceutical industry which he said was hindering access to affordable medicines.
The pharmacist listed poor infrastructural systems, power, transportation, regulatory bottlenecks, importation dependency, and limited research opportunities as major challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector.
He also stressed the need for robust collaborative efforts with institutions like Moniepoint to strengthen the sector.
“As Nigeria continues to grow, improving local pharma manufacturing to meet the demands of this growth presents a key opportunity for us all.
“There is also the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, which is expected to boost our industry, especially when we start producing our drugs locally, which will provide the much needed foreign exchange from exports.
“We are also seeing advancements in digital health and technology which would hopefully deepen the practice of e-prescription in Nigeria”, the ACPN boss said.
Corlins Walter
In order to enhance customer service and streamline operations, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has called on stakeholders in the insurance industry to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The President of the institute, Yetunde Ilori, made this call at the 2024 Office Representatives Committee (ORC) Workshop, organised by the institute, with the theme “AI and the Future of the Insurance Industry”, in Lagos.
Ilori at the event, emphasised the importance of AI adoption, noting that it was not a threat to jobs but rather a tool to improve efficiency across the insurance sector.
“It is not about AI taking over our jobs, but about us using AI to simplify processes and give maximum satisfaction to all the customers we serve whether as underwriters, brokers, loss adjusters, or in educating our members”, she said.
The workshop, which brought players in the insurance sector together, aimed to address how AI could be leveraged to transform business processes and improve customer interactions.
The Chairman of the ORC, Monica Nwachukwu, underscored the role of AI in modernising the industry, adding, “AI can automate customer and claims processes, allowing insurers to provide faster and more efficient services to their customers”.
She explained how AI could help extract data from legacy systems, enhancing decision-making processes.
“By integrating AI with APIs, insurers can feed valuable data into AI solutions to improve operations and customer service”, she added.
In his address, the Managing Partner of A4S and Training Heights, Orlando Odejide, stressed the need for companies to align their strategies with future technologies like AI, especially as they prepare for 2025.
“Any organisation that wants to grow into the future must have its strategic plan in place. If your strategy for 2025 is not ready, it should be done by October”, he advised.
He encouraged participants to think critically about how AI could be integrated into their business models to ensure they remain competitive.
“The idea is for you to use this workshop as a platform to think about your organization and how AI can help streamline your processes and improve growth”, Odejide noted.
In order to gain global respect and recognition, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has reaffirmed its determination to pursue its goal in ensuring that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global space economy.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, NASRDA revealed that the Director-General of the agency, Matthew Adepoju, emphasised this during recent engagements at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Global Alliance Business Association international conference in Michigan, United States.
The statement noted that Adepoju outlined a forward-thinking agenda, stressing the importance of Nigeria’s space programme as a leader in research, exploration, and technological innovation.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
“We must foster collaborations with global space agencies to enhance our satellite capabilities and technological infrastructure”, he stated.
The NASRDA boss said the agency is focusing on enhancing satellite capabilities, expanding international collaborations, and leveraging space science for national development.
He said NASRDA will have no stone unturned in pursuit of excellence, ensuring the agency secures the necessary resources and recognition to propel it forward.
“The relationships we build today will pave the way for tomorrow’s advancements in space science.
“Innovation and progress thrive in an environment built on collaboration and inclusivity”, he stated.
He emphasised that with the support of the government, international partners, and a dedicated team, NASRDA is poised to make significant strides in the evolving global space landscape.
“We are on the brink of a new era for Nigeria’s space agency. Together, we will ensure our nation stands out in the global space economy”, he said.
Corlins Walter